More suspects in Afghan deaths

June 16, 2010 - 7:06 PM

Four additional soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Wash., have been charged in the shooting deaths of three Afghan civilians.

In all, five soldiers from the same unit of the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team now face charges in an investigation that puts a spotlight on the U.S. military's credibility in southern Afghanistan. The slayings, about which the military has released few details, took place between January and May in Kandahar Province.

Pfc. Andrew Holmes, 19; Specialist Michael Wagnon, 29, and Specialist Adam Winfield, 21, were each returned to the base and charged with one count of murder. A fourth soldier, Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs, 25, was charged last week in Kuwait with three counts of murder and one count of assault. Earlier this month, Specialist Jeremy Morlock, 22, was returned to the base from Afghanistan. He faces three counts of murder and one count of assault.

MILITIA LEADER KILLED IN IRAQ

The leader of a government-backed Sunni militia was killed by a "sticky" bomb attached to a car west of Baghdad. The attack on local Awakening Council leader Mohammed al-Hamdani occurred in the village of Hamdaniya, police and hospital officials said. Al-Hamdani 's bodyguard was injured.

Police said another sticky bomb attached to a civilian car driven by a police officer exploded in eastern Baghdad, killing a beggar and wounding the driver and three others.